As home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, this place is absolutely worth checking out. We…read morecame over Memorial Day weekend and we had been hearing rumblings in town that this is typically one of their busiest seasons of the year so we were really nervous we would have to wait in long lines, it would be crowded, and we wouldn't be able to enjoy our hike up the sand dunes. It was actually totally chill, it took maybe 15 minutes to get situated and pay for our park pass, drive to the dunes, and find parking but nothing outrageous. I will say the park rangers here are not friendly and fairly rude if I'm being honest. The dunes themselves were super fun, we had never been to anything with this much sand before so it was a blast sledding down the hills! All of the visitors were really nice and friendly to one another which is always great to see. We specifically rented a 4x4 jeep so we could go on the Medano Pass Primitive Road and probably only made it about 5 miles. THIS was actually crowded and unruly as it's one lane and you have to park on the side every now and then to let cars from the opposite direction come through. It was bumpy, not scenic at all, and rather annoying having to stop so frequently so we ended up ditching it and leaving to go to the visitor center instead. If I were to redo this part, I would have just rented a cheaper car that wasn't a 4x4 and saved loads of gas. Because the park is open 24/7, we were especially excited to come back at night though and see the dunes. We returned around 10:30pm and although there were some really annoying people blasting music in the dunes parking lot that ruined the ambiance, the stars were absolutely magnificent. Since it's a certified International Dark Sky Park,they were absolutely stunning and radiating from the night sky. We got so lucky it was a clear night so we could see them so well! That was the highlight of our trip for sure.

A truly remarkable landscape that must be experienced. These are the tallest sand dunes in North…read moreAmerica. Yes, in Colorful Colorado!!! My first trip to Great Sand Dunes National Park was in February of this year. It completely exceeded my expectations. No, it's not classic Colorado. Yes, I visited in the off season (more people should do this!) Minimal crowds meant having most of the park to myself. I rented a sandboard in Alamosa and sandboarded down the dunes. Only $20 at Kristi Mountain Sports! Talk about a thrilling experience! Totally recommend doing this if you're craving an adventure. All you have to be cautious of are the weather conditions, specifically wind. I watched the forecast like a hawk and tailored my visit accordingly. The two popular hikes to experience the dunes are High Dune and Star Dune, with the latter being the tallest. Now you know I'm a hiker and that I grew up near the ocean...but hiking on sand??? Not for the faint of heart! I made it up to High Dune and ran out of water and decided it was best to head back. Incredible views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. At a few points I was completely surrounded by dunes and that was a feeling I never thought I'd experience! Visiting at sunrise the following morning was spectacular. I was the only one in the trailhead parking lot! The pink skies over the dunes and mountains was a special combination. I hiked the Dunes Overlook Trail afterwards and I'd recommend it since you get to see the park from a higher vantage point. I also saw 25 deer on trail, no I'm not exaggerating! This was the adventure of a lifetime. Go play in Colorado's sandbox, you'll be surprised how much you enjoy it! Can't wait to come back!

Beautiful park. Lots of swings. A few slides. Beautiful river with lots of activities. Something…read morefor everyone. Bathrooms were not that clean and smelled of urine.

Avoid if you can. A bit weird and disworldly. The S hill is the cool part. I don't feel safe here…read moreat all for some reason.

Stopped to check out what appeared to be an abandoned park in the middle of nowhere on the way to…read moredunes. I found an abandoned park on the way to the dunes, with exceptionally clean, well stocked restrooms and picnic areas shaded against the worst of the NM sun. The plan when establishing the park: Nice place for locals to spend A Day At The Beach. Reality, the water becomes poisonous to fish, dries up quickly, and the beach is on the edge of a mud hole. Still, possibly worth hiding a tent on overnight...

Beautiful, scenic, peaceful place to relax & recharge!!! Note: This is no longer a Colorado…read moreState Park - "State Park Passes" do not grant admission!! The Park falls under the authority of the Colorado Parks & Wildlife, as a State Wildlife Area. We stayed here 3 nights in Aug. '25 - The Lake was completely dry, but park is still open & provides a nice restful stop for travelers near the Sand Dunes, with nice large campsites and 30/50a Electric!! John - the new camp host is extremely helpful & friendly, and works incredibly hard (all by himself!) to help insure the Park's future by making sure that all guests have the proper State Wildlife Area pass (or CO Hunting/Fishing license) to help support the ongoing capability of providing free electrical campsites to guests. Seniors can obtain an SWA Annual pass for $11.73 online at cpwshop.com (each guest needs a pass!). We can't thank our host John enough for his hard work & dedication to help keep this park open!!

This short hike to the falls was one of the most worthwhile mini adventures taken in a long long…read moretime... The reward was this magical ice covered masterpiece of nature... We got super lucky with our timing and caught the falls in one of the most amazing moments.... Do not pass this one up...

A 30 foot frozen falls await you up a fairly steep one mile trail that has lots of rocks and plenty…read moreof ice/snow melt in late March. Be sure to wear shoes/boots with good grips for the trail. The hike is well worth it. As I approached the falls, the sound was just surreal as I could hear the water flowing below the frozen ice from the falls. There is also a beautiful blue glow from the frozen falls. A must see if you are near the Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Beautiful breathtaking drive! Recommend if height and sheer drop off in both sides is not a…read moreproblem, take your time and enjoy the epic view

This is a great drive narrow one way foad.DO NOT GO if you are afraid of heights…read more As far as hiking it it is steep and rocky lots of cactus . If you stay on the road way watch for car and step off pavement about half way up from entrance you will see dinosaur footprints and fossils in the rocks way cool.take water with you it will be needed

In the traditional sense. But definitely historic as in something that you should see. It's about…read morean hour south of denver. And well worth the drive. If you go in Winter make sure you have snow tires or chains. Be smart about this. This is colorado. Was much more advanced and creative than I had been told. I would go back again to see what kind of advancement has been made. Appears to be pretty much structurally sound. Although if you weigh over 130 lb I would be cautious in going on the scaffolding. What's that being said the majority of the structure is very stable and very secure. While you were there, please be respectful. Respectful of others. Respectful of the property and respectful of the effort that has gone into this work of art. This is one man's dream that has come to fruition. There is a donation box. It is advisable I would leave a donation. I left $20 which I thought was more than worth it to see this marvel.

Bishop's castle is one of the coolest things in Colorado. It is a drive in the middle of nowhere…read more Constructed by a man who just wanted a castle. All hand made. Very scarey when you get up to higher points but you just have to trust his engineering. He has since passed away he was the coolest guy ever. He didnt build this place for profit it isnt a place of business. The only way they keep this place going is donation based. Can be dangerous at parts so be careful.

We are locals and ventured here on the motorcycle during a weekday when it was not tourist season…read moreand IT WAS PERFECT! Loved it, it was beautiful and PEACEFUL, and we will definitely come back here again!

The hike was only about a mile to get there and back. And the views were great the entire time…read more There's a small waterfall and area to swim as well as cliffs to jump into the water. The cliffs are very high and there are rocks at the bottom so bring shoes and be safe. The water was also freezing but super refreshing.

Views are unparalleled!…read more If you're passing by the area, be sure to visit here. There is a 7 dollar fee. Most people do not pay it. But I know you're a good American citizen (or honorable global traveler) and will support the site. What a place to have a picnic. If you're on the road and want a shady spot with tables to eat your Pb&J, stop here. This is probably the only place you're going to get to have a full, Panaramic view of the Collegiate Peaks. Yep, Yale, Princeton, Columbia. Seriously, guys. You're in such an amazing place and you just had to name them after Ivy League schools, didn't ya? But enough of the rant. I got the best shots of the mountains from here.

We found this place while driving back to Denver from a short weekend get away in Salida, CO. Wow!…read moreWhat a gem! We saw the sign on the road and decided to check it out. We are sooooo glad we did! Beautiful area with clear waters and a campground far enough fro the road, so super quite. We will be coming back to camp this summer. It is one of the most popular locations for whitewater rafting and kayaking on the Arkansas River.

This is a great, little park that has a large open field and places to sit and watch the sunset. It…read moreis right next to the Smokey Jack Observatory where you can sit on a bench at night and see the most incredible display of the stars. Five stars because there are clean bathrooms and plenty of parking.

he Elephant Rocks are part of the Fish Canyon Tuff; volcanic ash welded together over time and has…read morebeen determined to be at least 28 million years old. While the origin of the Wagon tracks is still greatly debated, it is believed that these tracks were cut into the soft volcanic tuff by the action of conastoga wagon wheels. Our Geology-based Earthwatch Expedition spent a lot a time in this area, including parts of the Masonic Park Tuff that revealed itself as we traveled farther in. We had a great time drilling holes (with permit), orienting, using a Schmit Hammer to measure rebound (rock hardness), and collecting samples. This also involved a great deal of hiking at high altitude, which by the end of the trip, put me in really good physical shape. The high desert scenery was also stunning and introspective. I may never pass this way again, but I'll never forget my experience.